Hosts Katie and Rose answer listeners' questions on topics including Kenya's role in clean energy, advice for energy professionals, children's engagement with energy, Iceland's fisheries management system, empathy, motherhood, comfort food, music preferences, advice and food dislikes, seafood preferences, and planning an energy dinner party.
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Quick takeaways
Kenya is positioning itself as Africa's clean energy leader with a focus on renewable energy and the need to address the broader energy sector.
Ensuring a resilient supply chain for critical minerals is crucial for global energy transition, while safeguarding the sovereignty of countries and avoiding colonial patterns.
Young energy professionals should embrace exploration, gain diverse experiences, and see connections between different aspects of the energy sector.
Deep dives
Kenya's Clean Energy Leadership
Kenya is positioning itself as Africa's clean energy leader with a strong green grid and a focus on renewable energy. However, there is a need to move beyond the narrative of clean electricity and address the broader energy sector, including transportation and industrial policies. While there may be some cynicism due to political ambitions and donor influence, there is cautious optimism that Kenya can leverage its clean energy starting position to make positive strides in energy infrastructure and global representation.
The Importance of Critical Minerals
Critical minerals, such as cobalt and lithium, are vital for the global energy transition. Ensuring a resilient and expanded supply chain for these minerals is crucial for developing energy systems worldwide. Low-income countries with significant deposits of critical minerals should have a say in their development and benefit from their resources. Careful consideration is needed to safeguard the sovereignty of countries and avoid replicating colonial patterns. There is also an opportunity to advocate for parallel investments in domestic energy alongside mineral extraction for both economic and development purposes.
Career Advice for Young Professionals
For young energy professionals starting their careers, it is valuable to embrace the exploration phase and be open to new experiences and ideas. Taking the time to gain diverse experiences and work on different projects can help shape values, interests, and skill sets. Finding a specific niche or area of expertise is not necessary. The ability to see connections between different aspects of the energy sector and synthesize information is valuable for directing actions and decision-making.
Becoming a Parent and Changes in Perspective
Becoming a parent has brought a deeper sense of empathy and a heightened awareness of the global challenges faced by mothers and children. It has made issues of energy poverty and climate resilience more personal, connecting them to the well-being and future opportunities of all children. Additionally, being a parent has fostered a greater sense of protectiveness over time and a recognition of the preciousness of time in all aspects of life.
The Influence of Scientific Background
A scientific background shapes the approach to work by fostering structured thinking and a focus on understanding complex problems at a foundational level. It instills a mindset of breaking down problems into their constituent parts and gradually building a comprehensive understanding. This approach helps to simplify complex issues and tackle them efficiently. Additionally, a scientific background emphasizes a pursuit of deep understanding and a curiosity-driven mindset that adds value to work in a policy context.
Welcome to our first ever Ask Me Anything episode! Hosts Katie Auth and Rose Mutiso sit down together to answer listeners’ questions on topics including Kenya’s role as an African clean energy leader, advice for young professionals working in energy, dream music festival lineups, and much more.
